The President’s Inbox

Latest Episodes:

Africa’s Urban Youth Revolution, With Michelle Gavin Sep 09, 2025

Show notes

Michelle Gavin, Ralph Bunche senior fellow for Africa policy studies at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what urbanization, a youth-heavy population, and social media mean for politics across the African continent.

Enter the CFR book giveaway by September 23, 2025, for the chance to win one of ten free copies of Age of Change by Michelle Gavin. You can read the terms and conditions of the offer here.

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/africas-urban-youth-revolution-michelle-gavin

Brewing Troubles in Colombia, With Roxanna Vigil Sep 02, 2025

Show notes

Roxanna Vigil, International Affairs Fellow in National Security at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss rising political violence in Colombia and its consequences for the Andean region and beyond.

Mentioned on the Episode:

Paul J. Angelo, From Peril to Partnership: U.S. Security Assistance and the Bid to Stabilize Colombia and Mexico, Oxford University Press

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at:

https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/brewing-troubles-colombia-roxanna-vigil

A New U.S. Grand Strategy: The Case for a Realist Foreign Policy, With Stephen Walt Aug 26, 2025

Show notes

Stephen Walt, Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what a realist U.S. foreign policy would look like.

Mentioned on the Episode:

John Ikenberry, “A New U.S. Grand Strategy: The Case for Liberal Internationalism, With G. John Ikenberry," The President's Inbox

John J. Mearsheimer and Stephen M. Walt, “The Case for Offshore Balancing: A Superior U.S. Grand Strategy,” Foreign Affairs

Barry Posen, Restraint: A New Foundation for U.S. Grand Strategy, Cornell University Press

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/new-us-grand-strategy-case-realist-foreign-policy-stephen-walt

The Trump-Putin Summit, With Michael Kimmage Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

Michael Kimmage, professor of history at the Catholic University of America, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the results of the meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on the war in Ukraine.

Mentioned on the Episode:

Michael Kimmage, Collisions: The War in Ukraine and the Origins of the New Global Instability

Michael Kimmage and Maria Lipman, “The Limits of Putin’s Balancing Act," Foreign Affairs

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/trump-putin-summit-michael-kimmage

TPI Replay: The Eurasia Challenge, With Hal Brands Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

Hal Brands, Henry A. Kissinger distinguished professor of Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and author of The Eurasian Century: Hot Wars, Cold Wars, and the Making of the Modern World, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss how and why control of Eurasia affects U.S. national security. This episode is the fifth in a continuing TPI series on U.S. grand strategy.

This episode was originally released by The President’s Inbox on January 21, 2025.

Mentioned on the Episode

Hal Brands, The Eurasian Century: Hot Wars, Cold Wars, and the Making of the Modern World

H. J. Mackinder, “The Geographical Pivot of History,” The Geographical Journal

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/eurasia-challenge-hal-brands

The Thai-Cambodian Border Clash, With Joshua Kurlantzick Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

Joshua Kurlantzick, senior fellow for Southeast Asia and South Asia at the Council on Foreign Relations, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the ongoing border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia and if the current ceasefire will hold up.

Mentioned on the Episode:

Joshua Kurlantzick, Beijing’s Global Media Offensive

Joshua Kurlantzick, “Thailand and Cambodia’s Ceasefire: Will It Stop War When Elites Want Conflict?,” CFR.org

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/cambodian-thai-border-clash-josh-kurlantzick

Donald Trump’s Russia Ultimatum, With Liana Fix Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

Liana Fix, Fellow for Europe at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the current status of the fighting in Ukraine and the significance of President Trump’s recent ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Mentioned on the Episode:

Liana Fix, “Can NATO Keep It Together?” Foreign Policy

Liana Fix, “How the Berlin Bubble Failed in the Ukraine War,” Internationale Politik

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/donald-trumps-russia-ultimatum-liana-fix

Brazil and the BRICS, With Oliver Stuenkel Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

Oliver Stuenkel, associate professor at the School of International Relations at Fundação Getulio Vargas in São Paulo, Brazil, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the recent BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro and what Brazil sees as the group’s purpose.

Mentioned on the Episode:

Oliver Stuenkel,  BRICS and the Future of Global Order

Oliver Stuenkel, IBSA: Rise of the Global South

Oliver Stuenkel, Post-Western World

Oliver Stuenkel, “In Rio, BRICS Tries to Play It Safe," Foreign Policy

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/brazil-brics-oliver-stuenkel

The Future of U.S. Foreign Aid, With William Henagan Jul 15, 2025

Show notes

William Henagan, a research fellow at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss the current state of U.S. foreign aid programs after President Donald Trump’s reforms.

Mentioned on the Episode:

William Henagan, “Reauthorizing DFC: A Primer for Policymakers,” CFR.org

William Henagan, “Sovereign Funds and American Investment Strategy: How to Responsibly Create a U.S. Strategic Investment Fund,” CFR.org

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/future-us-foreign-aid-william-henagan

The Elusive Ceasefire in Gaza, With Elliott Abrams Jul 08, 2025

Show notes

Elliott Abrams, senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council, sits down with James M. Lindsay to discuss ongoing efforts to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza and the war’s ripple effects across the Middle East.

Mentioned on the Episode:

Elliott Abrams, If You Will It: Rebuilding Jewish Peoplehood for the Twenty-First Century

Elliott Abrams, "Meanwhile, Hamas Is Killing Civilians Who Seek Food," CFR.org

For an episode transcript and show notes, visit The President’s Inbox at: https://www.cfr.org/podcasts/tpi/elusive-ceasefire-gaza-elliott-abrams